St Johns Newsletter - 26 February 2025

Principals Report

At St John’s, we believe that ensuring the safety of students in our care is an integral part of who we are as a Catholic faith community. We are committed to meeting the Victorian Child Safe Standards introduced by the Victorian Parliament on 1st July 2022.

The new Child Safe Standards include new requirements, including:

• the involvement of families and students in child safety efforts
• focus on the safety of Aboriginal children and young people
• management of the risk of child abuse in online environments
• governance, systems and processes to keep students safe.

St John’s implements this in accordance with Ministerial Order No: 1359 in the development of its school Policies, staff training and ultimately, through the strategies used in dealing with the students and families within our school community.

The new Child Safe Standards are underpinned by Ministerial Order No. 1359. This Order defines the actions schools must take to meet the requirements of the new Child Safe Standards.

You can find further information on Child Safety on our web page or via the links below;

• St John the Baptist Primary School’s Commitment Statement to Child Safety
• St John the Baptist Primary School’s Child Safety Policy – Student Version
• Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited’s Commitment Statement to Child Safety
• Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited’s Closed Circuit Television Policy
• CECV Child Safety Material

Meet our Child Safety/Wellbeing team below. 

Jubilee year of Hope 2025.

Pope Francis invites us to embrace the Year 2025 As Jubilee Year — a sacred time of renewal and recommitment to our faith. Rooted in the theme "Pilgrims of Hope", this jubilee year offers a unique opportunity for individuals and communities to deepen their faith, reconcile with one another, and reignite their hope in Christ. As pilgrims, we are called to journey together, celebrating God's mercy, extending love to the marginalized, and finding strength in the shared mission of building a more compassionate world

“Let us pray that this Jubilee strengthens us in our faith, helping us to recognize the Risen Christ in the midst of our lives, transforming us into pilgrims of Christian hope” -

 Pope Francis

On Saturday 5th April at 11am, Our Parish will be hosting a special Mass for those who work in the health industry. An open invitation to all to come and celebrate and give thanks to all they give to our community.

Student Leadership: Student leadership roles for a variety of positions have recently been elected, congratulations to our leaders for 2025

School Captains:   Evie Price and Tony Butera

House Captains:          

• Cremin House: Harley Stivey and Harmony Dalrymple
• MacKillop House: Max Bell and Isla Hughes
• Wood House: Jack Soutter and Mila Packeer
• Scott House: Arshbir Singh and Lexie Wilson

Social Justice Leaders: Evie Walker, Grace Gard, Kayal Viswanathan and Jocelyn Elliott

W.A.L.K Ambassadors: Lilly Colley-Curtin, Anastazia Jopp, Heidi Morozoff and Isabel Underwood

SRC Representatives from senior classes will be announced next week. 

Chris Dortmas, Principal

Our Child Safety Champions/Wellbeing Team;

                                                  Jacki Taylor                     Rhiannon McFarlane               Eileen Crowley

NAPLAN Parent Information Brochure

Religious Education News

Next week, we begin the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday, a special day in the Catholic Church. On Ash Wednesday, we receive a cross of ashes on our foreheads as a sign of repentance and a reminder to turn our hearts toward God. This marks the beginning of Lent, a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as we prepare for Easter. Lent lasts for 40 days, reflecting the time Jesus spent in the desert before beginning His ministry. It is a season of reflection and renewal, where we are called to grow closer to God through acts of kindness, self-discipline, and helping others.

As part of our Lenten journey, our school will be supporting Project Compassion, an initiative of Caritas Australia that helps people in need both in Australia and around the world. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to live out the values of compassion and generosity by contributing to a common goal. More information about how families can participate in Project Compassion will be sent home soon. We encourage you to talk as a family about ways you can embrace the spirit of Lent through prayer, making small sacrifices, and giving to those in need.

Alycia Matthews, Religious Education Leader

Upcoming Dates

27/2: Grade F/1/2 Class Mass @9:15am 

5/3: Ash Wednesday Mass @11:30am 

Pray Together

St Johns Open Day & 2026 Enrolments

Families wanting to enrol for 2026 are invited to attend our Open Day to discover more about our wonderful school.

Enrolments are now open

Enrolment packs can be downloaded from our website (https://www.stjohnskwr.catholic.edu.au/enrolment-information/enrolments/), alternatively, if you would like an enrolment pack sent home please call the office or email office@stjohnskwr.catholic.edu.au to request this, interviews will commence towards the end of Term 1 following reciept of completed enrolment documentation. 

Camps, Sport & Excursions Fund (CSEF) & 2025 School Savings Bonus (SSB)

Camps, Sports & Excursions Fund (CESF)

The Camps, Sports & Excursions Fund has been introduced by the State Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.

The 2025 CSEF amount will be $154 per primary school student.

To be eligible for the fund you must be:

• A parent or legal guardian of a student enrolled at a registered Victorian school on the first day of Term two or the first day of Term Three; and
• Hold a valid means-tested concession card or be a temporary foster parent.

Application forms are available from the school office or may be downloaded via the link below
and should be lodged with the school by 22 June 2015.

2025 School Savings Bonus

The School Savings Bonus is a State Government initiative designed to assist families with cost-of-living pressures. Under this funding, each eligible student is entitled to a $400 bonus for application towards activity levies and uniform purchases from approved supplier. Within our school, all CSEF applicants are eligible to receive this funding. All families who have a Centrelink Health Care Card and have not applied for CSEF in the past are encouraged to contact the school office and initiate an application this year. Please refer to the below link for more information:

Uniform Shop - ordering from Beleza

Uniform Shop 

A reminder that our onsite uniform shop has closed and all uniform ordering is now available via Beleza in Pakenham (both instore & online).

Please see attached information (this has also been emailed to all families).

Upcoming Events

Upcoming events shows events for the next 4 weeks, for events further ahead please see the calendar in PAM. 

OSHC (Out of School Hours Care)

After School Hours Care operates out of the St Johns hall before and after school.

Please contact OSHC directly for all enquiries:

• 1300 946 337

To enrol in OSHC please use the online enrolment form below: 

Enrolment Form

For all other information in regard to OSHC please follow the link below to their website: 

Out of School Hours Care | Windermere

Alternatively you can visit them in the hall before or after school to enquire. 

St Francis Xavier College - Open Day 22 March 2025

Koo Wee Rup Catholic Parishes in Partnership